Ted Lilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ted Lilly |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Lilly with the Los Angeles Dodgers
|
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 4, 1976 Lomita, California, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| May 14, 1999, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 4, 2013, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 130–113 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.14 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,681 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Theodore Roosevelt Lilly III (born January 4, 1976), known as Ted Lilly, is a former American baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2013. Lilly played for six different teams during his career. He was also chosen twice to be an MLB All-Star.
Ted Lilly went to Yosemite High School and Fresno City College. He became a professional baseball player after being drafted in 1996.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Ted Lilly in the 1996 MLB draft. He played for two seasons in their minor league system. Later, he was traded to the Montreal Expos in 1998. This trade involved several players moving between teams.
Playing for the Montreal Expos
Ted Lilly made his first MLB appearance for the Expos on May 14, 1999. He pitched in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also made his first start as a pitcher on September 19. In total, he played in nine games for the Expos that year.
Time with the New York Yankees
In 2000, Lilly was traded to the New York Yankees. He joined the team as part of a larger trade deal. On April 27, 2002, Lilly pitched an amazing game against the Seattle Mariners. He allowed only one hit, but his team still lost.
Pitching for the Oakland Athletics
After playing for the Yankees, Lilly was traded again in 2002. He went to the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-team trade. Lilly became a starting pitcher for Oakland. He also pitched in the American League Division Series in both 2002 and 2003.
Joining the Toronto Blue Jays
Lilly was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004. In April of that year, he pitched a game where he allowed only two hits. He was also chosen to be an American League All-Star in 2004. He was the only Blue Jays player selected that year.
A big moment for Lilly with the Blue Jays was on August 23, 2004. He pitched a complete game shutout against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out 13 batters and only allowed three hits.
In 2006, Lilly had a great season with 15 wins. He also had 160 strikeouts. This was his best season for wins so far. He was a top pitcher for the Blue Jays.
During a game in August 2006, Lilly had a disagreement with his manager, John Gibbons. Lilly was taken out of the game early. He later left the Blue Jays and signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs.
His Years with the Chicago Cubs
Ted Lilly started strong with the Chicago Cubs in 2007. In his first game, he pitched very well, allowing only one run. He continued to pitch well in April, keeping his ERA low.
In 2009, Lilly was selected for his second All-Star game. He was the only Cubs player to make the team that year. After the season, he had shoulder surgery to fix an injury.
On June 13, 2010, Lilly almost pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. He didn't allow any hits until the 9th inning. He was then taken out of the game, and his team won 1-0. This was the longest he had kept a team from getting a hit.
Representing Team USA
Ted Lilly pitched for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He started two games for his country. In his first game, he faced Venezuela. His second start was against Puerto Rico, which Team USA won.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 31, 2010, Lilly was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a great start with the Dodgers, winning his first five games. He finished the 2010 season with a 7-4 record for them. He even pitched a complete game shutout in August.
In October 2010, Lilly signed a new contract with the Dodgers for three years. The 2011 season was a bit up and down for him. He pitched much better in the second half of the year.
Lilly started the 2012 season well with a 5–1 record. However, he started feeling pain in his shoulder and had to stop playing. He tried to return but eventually needed surgery on his shoulder.
He returned for the 2013 season but faced more injuries. He had a strained rib muscle and later injured his neck. These injuries made it hard for him to play. The Dodgers later decided to release him from the team.
Retirement from Baseball
After leaving the Dodgers, Ted Lilly tried to continue playing. He even joined a winter league in Venezuela. However, his health problems continued. On November 27, 2013, he announced his retirement from baseball.
In 2014, the Cubs hired Lilly as a special assistant. He was eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019. However, he did not receive enough votes to be elected.
Ted Lilly's Pitching Style
Ted Lilly was known as a finesse pitcher. This means he relied on being very accurate and making the ball move. He didn't throw the ball as fast as some pitchers. He could throw several different types of pitches.
- Changeup: A slower pitch that looks like a fastball.
- Fastballs: He threw two types, a four-seamer and a two-seamer. These pitches were usually around 86-90 miles per hour.
- Breaking balls: He also threw a slider and a curveball. His slider was often used against left-handed batters.
Lilly had a straight-over-the-top pitching motion. This means his arm came directly over his head when he threw the ball.
About Ted Lilly's Life
Ted Lilly is married to Natasha, who is also known as Tasha. She is a veterinarian, which means she is an animal doctor. They both support animal humane societies. Their son, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly IV, was born in 2010.
